HISTORY
In May 1994 the Alabama
Legislature appropriated 1.97 million dollars to establish an
enhancement program for high school science teachers. The appropriation
funded six Science in Motion sites across the state, each having
two fully equipped vans and two mastered-level science teachers.
Using the vans, these mastered-level teachers were to deliver
high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment and all needed lab supplies
to participating high school teachers and students.
In 1995, five additional sites in the state were added, each with one van. In 1996 a second van was added at these five sites. In 2005, all sites were fully funded. The Alabama Science in Motion program is now comprised of 11 sites, each with three vans, equipment for all three disciplines, and three mastered-level teachers to serve as program specialists.
THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA REGIONAL MOBILE SCIENCE PROJECT
The University of Alabama
is one of the six original program sites; it has a chemistry van
and a biology van available to serve high school teachers in the
twelve school systems in its region. Intensive training for all
participating teachers, a required component of the program, has
been conducted every summer since 1994. Teachers attend 10 days
of Level I training and an additional 10 days of Level II training.
Level III teachers are offered 5 professional development days
during each academic year; this training often includes going
into the classrooms of participating teachers to observe specific
science content lessons, labs, and/or designated science instructional
strategies. Grant funds provide stipends or substitute pay, as
well as mileage and per diem when teachers attend training.
The Science in Motion vans transport equipment and labs to participating
teachers at least once a month. The van equipment, as well as
the mastered-level teachers, serve as resources to the classroom
teachers and their students. The mastered-level teachers often
co-teach classes and serve as mentors/coaches to teacher participants.
GOVERNANCE
The
University of Alabama Regional Mobile Science Project operates
under guidelines established by the Alabama State Department of
Education in a Memorandum of Agreement. In addition, there is
a Steering Committee comprised of: Dean of the College of Education,
Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Director of
the In-Service Center, Chair of the Biology Department, Chair
of the Chemistry Department, a faculty member from the Biology
Department, a faculty member from the Chemistry Department, two
assistant project directors (mastered level teachers), and two
participating high school teachers, one biology and one chemistry.
